World Environment Day: Can you ditch plastic food and drink packaging?

Campaigners against plastic pollution are hoping millions of people around the world join what they say is the world's first plastic-free day.

Campaign group A Plastic Planet is aiming to inspire 250 million people around the world to avoid plastic packaged food and drink products for 24 hours to mark World Environment Day, celebrated globally on June 5.

The One Plastic Free Day initiative is backed by celebrities including adventurer Ben Fogle and aims to focus attention on the growing calls for significant measures to stem the tide of plastic pollution, the organisers said.

People are being urged to take a photo of the plastic-packaged products they are giving up for One Plastic Free Day and share it on social media, saying why they have been inspired to #PassOnPlastic.

A Plastic Planet co-founder, Sian Sutherland, said: "One Plastic Free Day will touch the lives of millions of people around the world.

"Across every continent, people are waking up to the fact that plastic has absolutely no place in food and drink. Where is the logic in wrapping something as fleeting as food in something as indestructible as plastic?"

And she warned: "Our addiction to plastic is this generation's smoking.

"For years, we were blissfully unaware of the terrible damage done by throwaway packaging to our oceans, our soil and the health of future generations. Now we know the truth.

"One Plastic Free Day is all about uniting the world to turn off the plastic tap. It's just one day to think twice before reaching for that plastic-wrapped food and drink product.